“Sure.”
She tossed him the water, then sat at her desk. She turned on the lamp connected to her magnifying glass and stared down at her piece. After a moment, she turned to him. She couldn’t work with him sitting there. He was too distracting. “Have you always lived on Snowy Mountain?”
“Yep. Except for my four-year stint in the military.”
Right. “What did you do there?”
“Not much. Came back as soon as I could. I love it here. No smog, no traffic, no crime. The only thing you have to worry about is what Mother Nature has in store for you.”
“That and how to bring in customers,” she added.
“There is that.” He looked up at her. “Thank you for tonight. Everyone is having a great time. Sales should be really good.”
“I didn’t do much. Fresh eye, fresh perspective. A few games. Maybe coming to visit the city and going to a few bars there will help you come up with ideas.”
“Is that an invitation?” His eyes sparkled.
Was it? “Well, you said you want to keep up the farce of a long-distance relationship. Maybe we can work out an arrangement that will be beneficial to us both.” What was she doing? Playing with fire, that’s what.
“I like the sound of that.” His gaze held hers.
She moved from the desk and sat on the couch next to him, giving up on the prospect of getting any work done while he was in the room.
“Tell me about Phoebe,” he said.
“Not much to tell. I live in San Francisco and recently started my own business. It’s a big gamble, and I have six months’ worth of savings to see if I can make it.”
“I like that. A woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it.”
“Thank you.”
“Siblings?”
“No. But I have great friends.”
“I bet you do. Can I see some of your work?”
“Absolutely.” She was ridiculously pleased he asked and picked up the velvet box with the work she’d already finished. “I just have one last piece to finish before Wednesday.”
He took the box and carefully lifted out a necklace. “This is beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t know why his praise affected her so much, but it did.
“You will be successful, I can tell.”
“How’s that?”
“Your passion and attention to detail. It’s obvious you care about your work.”
She did care, but he was the first one that noticed. “Thank you,” she said through a tight throat. This is pretend. Don’t be an idiot, Phoebe.
“Tell me about Candy,” she said. Not that she wanted to know; she just wanted to say the woman’s name and remind herself that he was in her room to avoid someone else. “Why can’t you just tell her you don’t want to date her?”
“I did. The woman is a barracuda.”
“All this seems rather extreme.”
“It is. I realize that. I was thinking about Rich and our conversation about getting married when she cornered me, pushing the way she does, and I just blurted out I was engaged. It was crazy, I know that. But I have to admit, I am enjoying the game.”
And that was the crux of the issue, wasn’t it? This is all just a game. A game that could get her hurt if she wasn’t careful.
“The truth is, I like you,” he added. “We’re having fun, and it’s easy to see you fitting into my world.”
Why did he have to be so damned attractive? “But this isn’t my world. Not by a long shot.”
His touch to her shoulder was light, and her awareness of how close they were spread through her. “I know.”
He leaned forward slowly, his eyes locked on hers. She couldn’t help staring at his lips and wondering what they would feel like when he kissed her for real, and not just a quick peck. What they would taste like. Would she melt in his arms and get swept away? Yes. She already knew that. She wanted him to kiss her. Wanted to pretend she was part of his world in this beautiful fairy tale even if it was only for one night.
When his lips touched hers, she didn’t pull away but fell into his kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck, her mouth opening. His tongue slipped over hers, heating her blood and making her forget that this was all a game. Pretend. Not real. A charade, and she was being foolish to open herself up to him.
This was a man who hooked up with a different woman every year. He was using her to get rid of another woman, and here she was falling for those cute dimples and falling into his arms.
She stiffened. “Stop. We can’t do this.”
“Sure we can,” he said, nuzzling her neck and making her swoon.
“Nope.” She swung her head back and forth, pulling away from those weaponized lips. “Sex just complicates things.”
“Only if we let it.” His fingers trailed up her arm.
“How could we not let it?”
“I want you. I know we just met, but you make me laugh. You make me not care about what’s beyond that door.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “I want to get to know every part of you.” And then his lips were on hers again.
A soft moan rose in her throat as her arms twined around his neck. She molded herself against him, trying to get closer. Trying to feel all of him. He laid her back and took his time, exploring her skin with his fingertips, the palm of his hand. His mouth, his teeth. Each sweep and taste better than the one before it. Her breasts ached, the tips tightening in anticipation.
She shuddered, loving the way his touch felt on her skin. It was a game; she knew that, but it was a game she wanted to play to the end. She wanted him to make love to her. His hands slid up her body, spreading heat and comfort. She ran her tongue down his collarbone, tasting his skin. His heat. Moving her hands up his chest, lingering on the swells of his muscles. Feeling their strength. Marveling at how good of shape he was in.
“You are a beautiful man, Beau.”
“Thank you. I’ve been told.” He grinned.
She almost laughed out loud. “I’m sure you have.” She stood and took him by the hand and walked him to her bed. The thought entered her mind to continue to the door and bid him goodnight, but if she did that, she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep. Even if she never saw him again, she wanted him to make love to her tonight.
She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off her shirt. His eyes darkened as he stood in front of her, watching her, his gaze drinking her in. She slipped off her jeans, then lay back on the bed, beckoning him to her. He pulled off his shirt, then unbuckled his belt.
She boldly ran her fingers down the length of him, wrapping her fingers around him and moving her hand until he drew in a deep shuddering breath. He was hard for her, and she couldn’t wait to feel the length of him inside her. But she had to wait. She didn’t want to rush this.
He lay next to her, playing with her breasts as he kissed her deeply. She loved the way he smelled, the way he tasted, and she figured she could do this all night long. Just this, right here, if expectation wasn’t coiling in her belly.
His hand moved down her body between her legs. He slipped his finger inside her warmth, and the feel of it almost lifted her off the bed. He stroked her inside and out. Heat flooded her body, making her nipples tighten and her nerve endings dance. She let out a soft moan as fire burned hot and fierce within her.
“Please, Beau. Don’t make me wait any longer.” She wanted to feel more than just his fingers inside her. She felt a quick pressure, and then he pushed within. Skin against skin, heat against heat. He moved slowly, letting her expand, so he filled every part of her as he started to move. She grabbed onto his hips and rocked with him, enjoying their rhythm, the way they fit together, the way they moved.
His breath was her breath, his heart beat in time with hers. She’d never made love to a man like this before, never lost herself so completely in the rhythm. She loved the feel of his arms around her. Holding her. Wanting her. It was a dance that had no beginning and no end. No doubts,
no worries. They were along for the ride, enjoying the sensations rocketing through them. Soaring above the trees, riding the winter’s breeze, bathing in the cold light of the moon, going higher and higher until she erupted in a starburst of sensations and fell back into his arms.
And once she caught her breath, she begged him to do it again.
Chapter Ten
The next morning when Phoebe found herself just staring at Beau, watching him sleep, she knew she was in trouble. Sex had never been like that with Sam. Beau was kind, thoughtful, and performed magic with his hands and lips. Lying there still basking in the warm glow of a night of glorious lovemaking, she could finally wholeheartedly accept Sam did her a favor by letting her go. She was lucky to have finally learned that.
She stared at the individual hairs popping out on Beau’s skin—morning shadow. It made him look even more handsome. She was doomed. She should get up and start working on her jewelry before she had to go back to the conference center. And yet, she still didn’t move. She didn’t want to lose this magical moment.
Was it possible that they could make this ruse work? Their engagement might be fake, but after last night, there was nothing fake about their attraction to each other. That was more real than anything she’d ever felt with anyone.
“Good morning,” Beau said with a smile. He was watching her watching him. She should be embarrassed, but she wasn’t.
Her lips twitched. “That it is.”
He turned toward her and pulled her close. “I broke our no sex deal.”
“Me, too.”
“I couldn’t help myself. You are just too scrumptious.” He nuzzled her neck as he said the words, and she felt her blood pressure rising as warmth blanketed her.
She should get to work. Roll away from him right now and put a stop to this.
But she didn’t.
“How much time do we have before your first panel?” he asked.
“An hour and a half.”
He grinned and lifted his eyebrows. “Plenty of time.” His hand swept down the curve of her waist and over her bottom.
“I should get to work on my jewelry.”
“Oh.” He nibbled on her earlobe, sending fire shooting through her blood. “Yes, I suppose you should.”
“Yes,” she murmured as his mouth fell over hers, his tongue sweeping inside and turning her to mush.
“Of course you know what they say about all work and no play?”
“No,” she whispered, losing the thought. All she could think about was his hand moving over her body in long sweeping motions and how her skin was soaking up his touch. She swept her hands up his chest, abandoning the idea of working and losing herself in the exploration of each other’s bodies. “Kiss me, handsome, and make me forget there’s a world outside this room.”
“Gladly.”
Chapter Eleven
Beau lay back on the bed, his heart thudding as his blood slowed and his breathing returned to normal. He couldn’t believe how well their bodies fit together. Phoebe’s response to his touch and the feel of her lips on him were unlike anything he’d felt in a long time. He trailed his fingers down her skin. He couldn’t seem to stop touching her.
Maybe because of the game they were playing, but what they’d just shared seemed more intense, more immediate, and definitely more than something physical. It was a feeling he didn’t want to end. He shifted close against her so he could feel the length of her body next to his and kissed her shoulder softly. “I know we agreed sex wasn’t part of the deal, but I sure am glad it is. That was real nice.”
She looked at him and smiled. “It was, but don’t get used to the idea. I still have a lot of work to do.”
“What? You mean you’re not going to blow off the conference and spend the weekend right here with me in this bed?”
“Not on your life.” She sat up.
He slapped a hand to his heart. “I don’t know what to say. I’m devastated.”
“You’re not going to be one of those crazy guys who never leaves, are you?”
He waggled his eyebrows. “Only if you want me to be.”
She leaned down and kissed his lips. “I would say let’s just take this slow and see where it goes, but we’ve already missed that boat.”
“That we have.” He deepened the kiss. “Since we’re already engaged.”
She broke away and smacked his arm. “Alright, big boy. Get a move on. I’ll see you later.”
God, she was sexy. “Are you kicking me out?”
“Definitely.”
“Fine. But don’t forget it’s Valentine’s Day. We have a hot date tonight.”
“Even hotter than last night?”
He squeezed her hip. “I do hope so.”
“Good. I’m looking forward to it. Now go on so I can get ready.”
“Okay.” He gave her a quick kiss, rolled out of the bed, and pulled on his clothes. He took one last look at her lying in the rumpled bed smiling at him before he headed out the door. How did he get so lucky? He left the room, shutting the door behind him.
Candy was coming down the hallway and looked surprised to see him coming out of Phoebe’s room. “Nice night?”
“Absolutely.”
“This is real, isn’t it?” she asked, perusing his face.
“What do you mean?”
“You look like a man in love.”
She was the last person he wanted to talk to about Phoebe. Especially before he had his first cup of coffee. “Then it must be true.” He started to walk past her, but she stopped him with a hand to his arm.
“Are you really going to marry someone you just met?”
“Candy, I don’t think it’s appropriate—”
“What do you even know about her? What’s her favorite food? Color? Where did she grow up?”
He didn’t know the answer to any of those questions. He made a mental note to make sure he found out.
“You don’t know, do you? Marriage is for a lifetime. Even if you split up, you were married. Unlike a wedding ring,” she looked down at his obviously bare finger. “A previous marriage isn’t something you can take off.”
He thought of his dad and wondered if she was right. Was that how his mother felt after she left them? Or did she take her ring off and never think of him and his dad again?
Her words nagged at him. “Candy, this isn’t something I feel comfortable talking to you about. If you don’t mind, I need to get some coffee.” He walked past her and went into the bar and toward the coffeepot. There were a few people sitting at tables, drinking coffee and eating breakfast.
It surprised him to see Rich sitting at the bar. “You’re up early,” he said.
“I wanted to talk to you.”
Beau poured himself a cup of coffee. “Let’s get a table.”
As he sat across from Rich, he looked back at the doorway leading to his room, but Candy was gone. Thankfully. “Okay, shoot.”
“You don’t really expect me to believe you’re engaged to that girl you just met this weekend, do you?”
Beau shrugged. “Is it really that improbable?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe it was love at first sight? She is quite the beauty. And funny. Did I mention that?”
Rich huffed out a grunt.
Beau leaned back in his chair. “Truth be told, I really like her. You should give her a chance.”
“I’m sure she’s just as nice as all the other girls your parade around here for a day or two, maybe even a week, and then you cut them loose. This one will be no different.”
Rich had a point. But this felt different, and it wasn’t just because of the game they were playing. “Maybe you’re right. Or maybe I want this bar more than I want anything else. I have worked here and at the hotel since I was a kid. This place is in my blood, and it’s dying on the vine. Sell it to me, let me make some changes and save it.”
“When you’re properly married and settled down or when I’m six feet under, that is the
only way you will get this business.”
“Then I guess I will get married. Wedding will be next month. I’ll make sure you get the invite.”
Rich looked at him incredulously. “How much are you paying that girl?”
“Who said anything about paying her? Do you really believe it would be that hard for me to get a wife?”
“I think you can do anything you put your mind to. That’s what concerns me.”
Beau took a deep breath. “Then let’s just cut the bull and get down to business. The bar and hotel won’t last another year if we don’t do this.”
“Well, you might want to have a conversation with your mom.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m talking about the ski chalet. How long do you think she can run it by herself? She needs you right now. Why don’t you spend your energy there?”
“Because I have no interest in the chalet. Checking skiers in and out, running the lifts. I did that as a teen. I don’t like having to go up the mountain and rescue people who get in over their heads and then blame me because they spent their day being cold and miserable. The experienced skiers aren’t on Snowy Mountain; they’re on Heavenly Valley. Up here, we get the day players.”
“Exactly, and if you can’t manage it, your mom definitely can’t. She’s having a hard time keeping workers up there, so she has to pay them more. Even with these wedding events, she’s no longer making a profit.”
This surprised him. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“She’s hinted. You know things are bad. You just don’t want to hear it.”
“All right. I’ll talk to her and Paige. We’ll think of something. But right now, I have to get up to the chalet to help Paige with the convention. I’ll stop by and talk to Mom this afternoon.”
“Good. It’s about time.”
“We’re all ready for tonight’s Valentine’s celebration. It will be busy. Are you going to be here? We can use some help.”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Valentine’s was always Marge’s favorite holiday.”
Beau patted his old friend on the back. Even though it had been five years since his wife’s death, Rich never stopped thinking about her. If Beau could have a love like that one, he wouldn’t be so against getting married. But those kinds of love stories were few and far between.
All Night Long: Kiss The Bride #2 Page 6